Firing mechanism for a salvo gun



April 25, 1951 D. c. FLTCHER FIRING MECHANISM FOR A sALvo GUN 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 9, 1956 V wg April 25, 1961 D. c. FLETCHER FIRING MECHANISM FOR A SALVO GUN I5v Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Bpuvd- E -F lac-hav yf M 1 @@r farne/v9- Filed Nov. 9, 1956 April 25, 1961 D. c. FLETCHER 2,981,156

FIRING MECHANISM FOR A sALvo GUN Filed Nov. 9, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN V EN TOR.

FIRING MECHANESM FR A SALVO GUN David C. Fletcher, Springfield, Mass., `assignor to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army Filed Nov. 9, 1956, ser. No. 621,486

9 claims. (c1. s9-1z7) (Grdnfed under Tine '35, U.=s. code (1952), sec. 266) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to firearms and more particularly to the firing mechanism therefor.

It is an object of this invention to provide for salvd rifles havingy a plurality of barrels a mechanism for ring salvo rifles having a plurality of barrels and a bolt having breech closure'portions with a ring pin for each vof the barrels a firing mechanism including strikers for actuating the firing pins simultaneously when the bolt is locked in battery position.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide for salvo rifles having a plurality of barrels a firing mechanism wherein the strikers which are actuatable against the firing pins for ring the cartridges in the barrel chambers are cocked simultaneously by a rotary sear and are released together by a trigger.

It is still another and further object of this invention to provide for salvo rilles having a plurality of barrels a firing mechanism having a rotary sear and an actuator for converting pivotal movement of a trigger to rotary movement of the sear.

It is another and still further object of this invention to provide for the firing mechanism of a salvo rifle a safety device to prevent actuation of the trigger before the rifle is in battery.

The specific nature of the invention as wellv as other objects and advantages thereof will clearly appear from a description of a preferred embodiment as shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a longitudinal cross-sectioned View of a salvo rifle embodying the firing mechanism of this invention showing the strikers releasably held in cocked position by the sear;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. l but showing the strikers released to actuate the firing pins for tiring the chambered cartridge;

Fig. 3 is a view taken along line 3 3 of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a view taken along line 4 4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Figs. l and 2 but showing the trigger held rearwardly by the safety member;

Fig. 6 is a view taken along line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is la View taken along line 7-7 of Fig. l;

Fig. 8 is a perspective exploded view of the trigger mechanism; and

Fig. 9 is a perspective exploded view of the striker and sear mechanisms.

Shown in the figures is a rifle having a tubular receiver V12 with three barrels 1'4mounted to the front end thereof,

and agas-actuated operating rodv 16 mounted axially throughf the receiver for longitudinal reciprocation beted dmtes Patent tween a rearward and a forward position.` A feed rotor 18 is rotatably mounted in the front end of receiver 12 adjacent the breech ends of the barrels 14, and such feed rotor is provided with three channellike secondary chambers 20 which receive cartridges from a magazine 22 and simultaneously align a cartridge with each one ofthe barrels. Feed rotor 18 is rotated to load the secondary chambers 26 by means ofthe slidable engagement of three pin followers 24 mounted in such feed rotor with a set of three cam grooves 26 generated along operating rod 1-6.

The cartridges in the secondary chambers 2li are moved into the chambers of the barrels 14 and removed therefrom after being fired by a bolt 28 having a hub portion 30, which is slidable in an axial bore 32 provided in said rotor 18, and three breech closure portions. 34,

which extend radially from the hub portion lto be slidably received by the secondary chambers. Each of the ybreech closure portions 34 is provided with an integral extractor portion 36, which is received by the extractor grooves of the cartridges when ythey enter the secondary chambers 2@ from magazine 22, and a slidable firing pin 38, which is actuatableV against a chambered cartridge. The breech closure portions 34 are receivable in a cylindrical cavity 40 which is formed in the front end of said rotor 18 by an annularflange 41 when bolt 28 is in battery. Whereby, such feed rotor may be rotated by the cam grooves 26 and pin followers :24 to move the second-ary chambers Ztlsome 47 degrees out of alignment Withthe breech clo-l sure portion 34 in a direction counter to that in which the feedrotor is rotated during the preceding feeding cycle to block the bolt against rearward movement. Bolt 28 is movable betweena retracted and a battery position by uthe engagement of lugs 42 on operating rod 16with the bolt during reciprocation of the operating rod.

The device for actuating the tiring pins 38 to lire the three barrels 14 simultaneously includes three strikers 44 which are slidably mounted in feed rotor 18 so that each is aligned with one of the firing pins 38 when such feed rotor is rotated to bolt locking position and which are actuatable against such firing pin as hereinafter explained. iAlso, `a cocking ring 46 which cocks the three strikers 44 simultaneously during rotation of feed rotor 18 t-o unload and load the secondary chambers 20, a ringlike sear 48 for releasably holding the strikers in cocked positions, a rotatable sear release Sli for cammingly rotating the sear to release the strikers, a pivotal trigger and a rectangular actuator 52 which is angularly displaced along the length of the front portion thereof to form a screw which cooperates with the scar release for converting the pivotal movement of a trigger 53 to rotatable movement of the sear release.

The strikers 44 are cylindrical rods which are slidingly mounted in mating holes provided longitudinally in said rotor 18 and which are so disposed therein that each is engageable with one of the tiring pins 38 as has hereinbefore been explained. Such holes include `a bore 56 and a counterbore 58 which is `introduced from the rear end of feed rotor 18 to form an annular shoulder 60. Each of the strikers 44 includes a head portion 62 which is slidably mounted in the bore 56 for engagement with respective ones of the firing pins 38, an annular collar portion 64 which slidingly ymounts the front end of the striker and limits the forward position thereof by the engagement with shoulder 60, and a body portion 66. The rear end of each of the strikers 44 is slidingly supported by a sleeve 68 which islocked in place in one of the counterbores 58 Iby a bayonet lug 7l?. Mounted on each of the body portions 66 is a compressible coil spring 72 which engages the rear side of the collar portion 64 and the front end of the sleeve 68 tobias the striker 44 forwardly to the tiring pin striking position,

Provided on each of the strikers 44 adjacent the rear end thereof is a rst chordal at 74, which forms a segmental engaging portion 75 at the rear end thereof, and a second chordal dat 76 which extends forwardly therefrom. Second chordal ats 76 are cut deeper than first chordal at 74 so as to forma ledge portion 78 at the junctions therewith. The rear portion of said rotor F18 is reduced `in diameter, as noted at 80, so that the rear portions of strikers 44 are exposed and so that the periphery is aligned with the second chordal flats 76. Such reduced portion 80 is terminated by an annular shoulder 82 at the forward end thereof.

Mounted in receiver 12 rearwardly of feed rotor 18 is a cuplike housing 84 which is disposed in the receiver so that the base thereof is directly above trigger S3 and the rim is spaced slightly rearward of shoulder 82 to provide space so that sear48 can be rotatably retained therebetween. An axial bore 86 through the base of housing 84 permits passage o f operating rod 16. The inner diameter of sear 48 is approximately that of reduced diameter portion 80 whereby the rear side of Sear 48 is engageable by the ledge portions 78, and such sear and such ledge portions are so related that when in engagement, the strikers 44 are in cocked positions. Extending into sear 48 from'the inside diameter thereof are three semicylindrical notches 90 which are alignable during rotation of the sear with the strikers 44 to free the ledge portions simultaneously and permit the strikers to be moved forwardly by the biases of springs 72 for simultaneous contact vwith the firing pins 38.

Sear 48 is limited in rotation between a striker release position, wherein the notches 90 align with strikers 44 for release therefrom, and a holding position, wherein the `ledge portions 78 are engaged by the scar to releasably hold the strikers in the cocked position by a tang 92 which extends from the inside diameter of the Sear to be slidingly received in a slot 94 provided in reduced diameter portion 80. A compressible coil spring 96 is mounted in slot 94- against tang 92 for biasing sear 48 to the holding position.

The outside diameter of cooking ring 46 is approximately the same as the inside diameter of housing 84 so as to be received for rotatable and slidable movement therein. Clearance cuts 99 are provided in cooking ring 46 to permit the passage of the rear portions of the strikers 44 and to connect such cooking ring to the feed rotor 18 for rotation therewith through engagement with such Strikers. The engaging portions 7S are engaged with the rear side of cooking ring 46 above clearance cuts 99 4whereby rearward movement of such cooking ring retracts the three strikers 44 simultaneously. Spaced equally around the outside periphery of cooking ring 46 are four follower lugs 98 which are slidable in mating cam tracks 100 provided in housing 84. The cam tracks 100 are so generated that during rotation of cocking ring 46, when feed rotor 18 is rotated to unload and load the secondary chambers 20, such cooking ring is moved sufficiently to retract the strikers 44 to their cocked positions.

As has been hereinbefore stated, sear 48 is rotated to release the strikers 44 by sear release 50. Such sear release includes a cylindrical shank portion 102 and a head portion 104 with a tooth portion 106 extending radially therefrom. Shank portion 102 is slidingly and rotatably mounted in a trigger housing 108 which in turn is mounted within receiver 12 immediately below housing 84 so that tooth portion 106 is received in a recess 110 provided in the rear face of sear 48 adjacent the periphery thereof. Recess 1'10 is substantially triangular in coniiguration -with an angular side 1111 leading from the rear side of sear 48 and a base portion 112. Whereby, when Sear release 50 is rotated, tooth portion 106 moves against base portion 112 to rotate Sear 48 sufficiently to align the notches 90 in sear 48 with the strikers 44 for release thereof.

As sear 48 rotates with `feed rotor 18 and as such feed rotor, after the rifle is red, is rotated rst to unlock lbolt 48 and then counterrotated to unload and load the secondary chambers 20, a cam portion 113 is `provided on tooth portion 106 so as to be engageable with angular side 111 of recess 110, during rotation of the feed rotor to -unlock the bolt, for camming sear release 50 rearwardly in trigger housing l108. l

Sear release `50 is releasably held in the rearward position, so as to be out ofthe way of sear 48 when counterrotated with feed rotor 18, by a latch member 114. Such latch member 1114 includes a body portion 116, which is intermediately mounted on a transverse pin 118 for pivotal movement between a latch `and an unlatch position, and a lip portion 120, which extends upwardly to catch in back of sear release 50 when cammed to the rearward position. Latch member 114 is biased to the latch position by a leaf spring 122. When sear release 50 is in the forward position, latch member 1-14 is held in unlatch position by the engagement of lip portion 120 with head portion 104 of the sear release. Such latch member 114 is pivoted to release sear release S0 by trigger 53 through means hereinafter explained,

Trigger 53 is mounted for pivot-al movement in trigger housing 10S directly rearward of latch member 114 on `a transverse pin 124, and such trigger is provided with a shelf portion 126 which is engageable with the underside of the rear portion of latch member 114 and which, when such trigger is in normal Aforward position, pivots such latch member to unlatch sear release 50. Trigger 53 is also provided with an extension portion \128 which extends upwardly` above pin 12,4 [for cooperation with actuator 52 as hereinafter explained.

VActuator 52, as has -been stated, is rectangular in configuration and has a square cross-section which is angularly displaced approximately 45 along the length of the forward portion thereof. The front end of actuator 52, where angularly displaced, is slidingly received by an4 axial cylindrical hole 130 in shank portion 102 of sear release S0 and a vertical slot 134 through the rear portion of actuator 52 receives the upper end of extension portion 128. The rear end of hole 130 is provided with a square orifice 132 which has approximately the same dimension as actuator 52. Whereby, when trigger 53 is actuated to `fire the rifle, actuator 52 is moved forwardly and because of the twist 4along the length thereof and the sliding cooperation thereof with orifice 132, sear release 50 is rotated against sear 48 -for actuation thereof to release the strikers 44. A compressible coil spring 135 is mounted on actuator 52 and seats against the rear end o-f shank portion 102 of sear release S0 and the `front side of extension portion 128 of trigger 53 to bias such trigger to normal forward position and such Sear release forwardly into resilient engagement with sear 48.

`Provided on operating rod 16 rearwardly of housing 84 is a coll-ar 136 which provides the front abutment for an operating rod spring 138 mounted on such operating rod whereby the operating rod is returned to normal forward position after being iactuated rearwardly responsive to the tiring of the rie. Extending forwardly from collar 136 is a pair of diametrically-opposed prong portions 140 which lie in the vertical plane of the rie and which are tapered inwardly towards the frontf Such prong portions 140 are receivable through bore 86 in the base of housing 84 when operating rod 16 is in norma-l forward position.

Provided in the base of housing 84 is a vertically-dis'- posed T-slot 142 which is treminated at the upper end by a top side 144 and which slidingly receives a safety member 146. An elongated hole 150 through safety member 146 permits the passage of operating rod 16 therethrough and the prong portions 140 when said operating rod is in full forward position. Extending downwardly from the bottom side of safety member 146 is a tab portion V152 which enga-ges the top of extension portion 128 5 of trigger -53 when such trigger is in normal forward position and which is slidable -in back of such extensionportion when such trigger is in the retracted position to blockl the return of the trigger to normal forward position. cam block 154 is mountedto the rear face of safety member 146 above hole 15d-,to be engageable Vwith the top one of the lprong portions 1149, when operating rod 16approaches -full forward position, so that such safety member is cammed upwardly to Ifree trigger 53 when rsuch operating rod is in full forward position. A compressible coil spring 156 is mounted between the top of safety member '146 and the top side of opening 86 to bias -such sa-fety member Idownwardly to block trigger 53.

Operation Thus, when the firearm is in battery and 'ready toV be fired, operating rod 16 is in normal forward positionwith the upper one of the prong portionsr 140y holding safety l member 146 upwardly so that trigger A53, unblocked by tab portion 152, is in normal forward position;l Bolt 28 isrin the, battery position with the breech closure-portions 34 closing the breeches of the barrels 14 in back of the chamberedV cartridges and is locked in battery position by alignment with the strikers V44. When the notches 907 come into alignment therewith, the strikers 44 willbe released to strike the firing pins 38 simultaneously `and re the cartridges in the .three barrels 14 together.

yOperating rod 16 is moved rearwardly responsive' to the firing of the rie and duringy the initial portion of such rearward movement, the prong portions 140 are moved away from safety member 146 permitting spring 156 to bias such safety member downwardly sothat tab portion Y 1'52 moves in back of extension portion 128 which was movedvforwardly when trigger 53 was pulled to fire the rifle. Consequently, trigger 53 is safetiedY against actuation again until operating :rod 16 returns to normal forward position which insures that the trigger cannotbe |actuated to release the strikers 44 before the riiieis in battery and thereby requires recharging. Also, during the init-ial portion of the rearward movement of 'operating rod 16', the cam grooves 26 thereon cause rotation off-feed rotor 18 to align the secondary chambers 20 with their respective breech closure portions 34 and so unlock bolt 28, As feed rotor 18 is rotated, sear 48 is rotated therewith and during such rotation, sear release 50 isy cammed rearwardly by the cooperation of angular side 111 with cam portion 113 until li-p portion 120 of latch member 114 ismoved upwardly by spring 122 in back of head portion l104. Whereby, sear release 50 is releasably held out of the wa-y during counterrotation of sear '48 when feed rotor 18 is counterrotated to unload and load the secondary chambers 20 during the continued rearward movement of operating rod 16.

During such unloading and loading portion of the operating cycle, cooking ring 46 is moved rotatingly rearward in housing 84 by means of the follower lugs 98 on such cocking ring and the cam tracks 100= in such spacer member. As cocking ring 46 moves rearwardly,

the engagement thereof with the engaging portions 75 on the strikers 44 causes such strikers to ybe retracted against the biases of the springs 72, to cock positions.

When the strikers 44 are in cockpositions, the ledge portions 78 thereon are positioned rearwardly of sear 48', and the second chori-dal flats 76 are aligned with such Whereby, sear 48 is free to be rotated by spring Seal,

With feed rotor 18 in lock position, thev 96 to move the notches 90 out of alignment with the ledge portions 78 and thereby lock the strikers in the cock: position.

When operating rod 16 is stopped in-its rearward flight by Aa buffer mechanism (not shown) and is returned to normal forward position through'the bias of operating rod'V spring 138, cooking ring 46 is returned to forward position by the counterrotation of feed rotor 18 and the cam tracks 100, leaving the strikers 44 releasably held bythe engagement of the ledge portions 78 with sear `4S. When operating rod '16 nears full forward position and bolt 28 is ybeing locked in battery position, the prong portions 140 enter hole 150 of safety member 146' to cammingly engage cam block 154 and raise 'such safety member. As such safety member is raised, tab portion 152 thereon is withdrawn from in back ofV extension o portion 128 of trigger 53 which when free is biased to normal forward position by spring 135. As ia result, shelf portion 126 moves upwardly against the rear end of latch member 114 to pivot lip portion 120 thereon clear of searrelease 50 which is then biased forwardly by spring `into recess 110 of sear 48 ready for trigger for actuating the sear is safetied against actuation y until the rifle is in battery with such firing mechanism being compact `and simple in construction and positive 4in operation.

Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been described in detail herein, it is evident `that many variations may be'devised within the spirit and scope thereof yand the following claims are intended to include suchy variations.

I claim: i

1 'For a rifle having a plurality ofy barrels, 'a bolt having a breech closure portion with a firing pin for each of the barrels and a feed rot-or rotated responsive to the firing of the barrel, a firing mechanism including strikers spring-biased from a cock position into contact with the firing pins foractuation thereof to tire the rie, cooking means` simultaneously engageable with said strikers, cam means for converting rotation of the rotor to linear movement of said cocking means against saidV strikers for simultaneous retraction thereof to their cock positions, sear means for releasablyholding said strikers in their cock positions, and means for actuating said sear means to. release said strikers for simultaneous contact with the firing pins.

2. For a riiie having a plurality of barrels, a boltV having a breech closure portion with a firing pin foreach of the barrels and a feed rotor rotated responsive to` the. firing 'of the barrel, a firing mechanism including strikers spring-biased from' a cock position into contact with the firing pin-s for actuation thereof to re the rifle, cocking means simultaneously enagegable with said strikers, cam means for converting rotation of the rotor to linear movement of said cocking means againstV said strikers for simultaneous retraction thereof to their cock positions, a rotary sear disposed transverse to the rifle for rotatably securing saidstrikers in their cock positions, a trigger mountedY for pivotal movement longitudinal to the rifle, and means for converting the pivotal movement of said trigger to rotary movement of said sear for releasing said strikers to strike the firing pins simultaneously.

3. For a rifle having a plurality of barrels, a reciprocable bolt having a breech closure portion with afiring pin for each ofthe barrels and a rotor for feeding cartridges to the-barrelsfand for locking the bolt in a battery position, a firing mechanism including strikers spring-biased from a cocked position into contact with the firing pins for actuation thereof, cocking means movleasing said strikers to ycontact the firing pins simul-` taneously, and safety means for blocking movement of said trigger until the bolt is locked in battery position.

4. For a rifle having a plurality of barrels, a reciprocable bolt having a breech closure portion wit-h a tiring pin `for each of the barrels, an `operating rod movably responsive tothe ring of the rie and a feed rotor longi-A tudinally mounted in the firearm for deliveringcartridges from a magazine into position for the bolt to chamber a cartridge simultaneously into each ofthe barrelsl and for lockingthe bolt in ,battery responsive to actuation of the operating rod, a ring mechanism including strikers mounted in the feed rotor for actuation against the ring pins by spring biasing means, a cooking: ring engaged with the feed rotor for rotation therewith, means on said cooking ring for engaging said strikers simultaneously for retraction thereof, cam means for moving said` cooking ring rearwardly responsive to rotation of the feed rotor for actuating said strikers simultaneously` to cock position, a sear engaged with the feed rotor for rotation therewith and mounted therein for rotation respective thereto for rotatably securing said strikers in the cock position, a trigger mounted forpivotal movement longitudinal to the firearm, and means for converting pivotal movement of said trigger to rotary movement of said sear for releasing said strikers simultaneously to contact the tiring pin. i

5. The device of claim 4 wherein the means for converting pivotal movement of said trigger to rotaryy move ment of said Sear for releasing said strikers includes a` sear release member mounted for rotational movement and for linear movement against said sear, a` tooth porrotates said sear release member to move said tooth portion against said side, mating cam portions on said tooth portion and in said recess foi-,actuating said tooth portion from said recess during subsequent rotation of said sear by the feed rotor, a latch for releasably holding said sear release member in retracted position, and means on said trigger for moving said latch to release said sear release member when said trigger is in normal forward position.

6. For a rifle having a plurality of barrels, an operating rod movably responsive to the firing of the ride, a bolt reciprocable by the operating rod and having a breech closure portion with a firing pin for each of the barrels and a feed rotor longitudinally mounted in the firearm for delivering cartridges from a magazine into position for the bolt to chamber a cartridge simultaneously into each of the barrels and for locking the bolt in battery responsive to actuation of the operating rod, a firing mechanism including strikers mounted in the feed rotor for actuation against the tiring pins by spring biasing means, a cooking ring engaged with the feed rotor for rotation therewith, means for engaging said cocking ring to said strikers for retraction thereof, cam means for moving said cocking ring rearwardly responsive to rotation of the feed rotor for actuating said strikers simultaneously to their cock positions, a rotary sear disposed transverse tothe `tie `for rotatably securing said strikers in their, cock positions, a trigger mounted for pivotal movement longitudinal` to the firearm, means for converting pivotal movement of said trigger to rotary movement of said `Sear for releasing said ystrikers simultaneously to contact the firing pin, safety means forblocking movement of said trigger after being actuated to iire the rifle, and cam means on the operating rod for moving said safety means to unblock said trigger as the operating rod rotates the feed rotor to lock the bolt inrbattery position. t

7. For a rifle having a tubular receiver with a plurality of barrels extending therefrom, an operating rod reciprocable between a forward and a rearward position responsive to the firing ofthe rie, a bolt reciprocable by the operating rod and having a breech closure portion with a tiring pin for each of the barrels, a feed rotor longitudinally mounted in the front end of the receiver i engaging portions formed by said first chordal flats on for rotationto deliver cartridges from a magazine into position for the bolt to chamber a cartridge simultaneously `into each of the barrels and to lock the bolt in battery responsive to reciprocation of the operating rod and a reduced diameter portion on the rear end of the feed rotorforming an annular shoulder, a firing mechanism including strikers reciprocably mounted in the feed rotor for alignment with the firing pins when the feed rotor islrotated to lock the bolt yand so that the rear portions thereof extend partially above-the reduced diameter portion, spring means for biasing said strikers forwardly to strike the tiring pin when Yreleased from a rearward cocked position, a cuplike housing having a lip portion longitudinally mounted in the receiver rearward of the feed rotor so that said lip portion is spaced from the annular shoulder, a Sear rotatably mounted on the reduced diameter portion between said lip of said housfirst chordal iiat provided on the rear portion of each of said strikers, clearance cuts in said cocking ring to permit` slidable passage of the rear portions of said strikers where provided with said first chordal flat while engaging said cocking ring to the feed rotor for rotation therewith,

each of said strikers engageable by the rear side of said cooking ring, a second chordal dat extending forwardly from each of said first chordal flats, forwardly facing ledge portions formed at the junction of said first chordal ats and said second chordal ats which are engageable with said sear when said strikers are in the cocked positions, and notches in said sear alignable with said ledge portions when said Sear is in the release position to release Vsaid strikers for simultaneous actuation of said ring pin.

8. The device of claim 7 with a pivotal trigger, means for converting pivotal movement of said trigger to rotatable movement of said sear for releasing said strikers.

'9. The device of claim 8 with a vertically-disposed T-slot in the base of said housing, a safety member mounted for slidable movement in said T-slot, a tab portion extending from said safety member for releasably blocking movement of said trigger after being actuated to iire the rie, and a cam portion on the operating rod engageable with a cam block on said safety member for moving said tab portion to unblock said trigger when the operating rod is in the forward position.

No references cited. 

